'Vaccination, timely treatment can minimise Covid impact'
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 20 2021: General medicine doctor Dr Uthan of JNIMS, who was hailed for his dedication in the treatment of Covid patients last year, has said that vaccination and timely treatment can minimise the effect of Covid-19 to a significant extent.

In an exclusive talk with The People's Chronicle, Dr Uthan said that one should visit hospital and get tested for Covid-19 if they sense any symptoms of the viral infection so that they could get treatment in time and prevent major complications.

On the other hand, vaccination drive is also in process and those eligible to get the vaccines should get vaccinated.

Getting the first dose of vaccine can protect against Covid-19 by 40 to 60 per cent while the second dose can protect by 90 per cent.

Though one may get the infection after getting the vaccine, the survival rate gets higher significantly and they might not need ventilator or oxygen support.

Even if their condition gets serious, they might not need ventilator support and recover faster, he said.

The young population, especially those in the age group of 25 to 40 years, cannot remain carefree as the virus is mutating and many people in this age group are also becoming victim to the virus.

Early detection and treatment can prevent major complications.

There is also a trend among the people of not wanting to undergo Covid test out of fear of facing stigma or spending times in Covid Care Centre.

These people often depend on over-the-counter drugs from pharmacy shops to suppress their condition.

In such situation, people come forward only when they started experiencing shortness of breath and other complications.

By that time, their lungs might have been damaged by almost 70 per cent and survival rate drops significantly, he said.

Regarding mild symptomatic patients in home isolation, the doctor said that the patient can undergo a seven-day or 10-day treatment course with azythromycin, doxicycline and ivermectin after consulting with a doctor.

These patients will also need to have combination of zinc, vitamin C & D.Asserting that a doctor should not sit idle simply because he/she does not have duty schedule during this crisis period, Dr Uthan said that three doctors are providing medical care to around 80 Covid patients a day.

These doctors get exposed to the contagion for at least 17 hours a day.

Though they are exhausted from such tight schedules of duty, they continue to carry out their duties in the service of mankind, he said.

Stating that there is shortage of doctors in the hospitals as compared with the number of Covid patients, he said that unemployed nurses or those on leave can also provide care to Covid patients in home isolation if available.

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